In December, four women who were trafficked from eastern Europe
and forced into prostitution in the UK, were awarded more than
£140,000 as compensation for the trauma they experienced.
Using international trafficking networks, one of the women,
now aged 18, was brought into the country five years ago and
another was trafficked at the age of 16 in 2003. The women were
subjected to forced prostitution, multiple rapes and beatings.
They were also refused any payment and threats were made to
their lives if they tried to escape. Two of the women did however
escape, at the start of last year.
This is a precedent setting case in which the Criminal Injuries
Compensation Authority has officially recognised that trafficked
women and children are entitled to compensation as victims of
violent crimes, which includes false imprisonment and forced
prostitution.
